Is it true that the official Harry Potter series will feature non-binary and transgender actors?

The news is spreading across the Internet that the series based on the Harry Potter universe from HBO Max will have great racial and gender diversity, that is, non-binary and transgender people will supposedly play the main roles. We verified its veracity.

Since mid-January, you can see many reports in the media and social networks about unusual requirements for the cast of the series about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. For example, they write that they are looking for a “gender non-conforming, non-binary or transgender woman” for the role of Lily Evans, Harry’s mother; James Potter, Harry’s father, will be played by a black non-binary actor of Asian or African descent, and Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather, can be played by a black person of any gender.

Similar news is available on the radio station's websites "Moscow speaks", TV channel "360°", newspapers "News", Lenta.ru, "Culturemania", as well as magazines Glamor And Euromag. On social networks posts hundreds are being collected about the casting likes And reposts. In addition, most of the publications mentioned state that HBO is responsible for developing the series.

Almost a year ago, January 25, 2021, magazine The Hollywood Reporter reported that a series based on the Harry Potter universe from Warner Bros. is in the early stages of development. According to sources, then the main producers held a series of meetings with potential screenwriters to discuss ideas and understand how to transfer such a large film franchise into a serial format. Moreover, no deals were concluded then, and no official development was even carried out. “Neither the studio nor the streaming platform is developing a Harry Potter series,” a representative from HBO Max and Warner Bros. upset fans.

It is important to add that, according to the publication, the release of the proposed project is planned on the HBO Max streaming service, and not on the HBO channel. These are different subsidiaries of WarnerMedia. But the series has not been officially announced for a year, so there are no plot or casting details. Perhaps non-binary and transgender people will play there, but it’s too early to talk about that.

But TikTok producer Megan McKelly, a girl last year, made her announcement announced about creating a fan series based on the world of Harry Potter. The web series is called The Marauders Saga: Order Rising. With the project, McKelly said, she and her collaborators aim to “reflect the diversity of the fan base through beloved characters, featuring people of color, queer stories, and characters of different faiths.” She posts all the news about preparation and production on her blog at TikTok.

So the other day, a tiktoker spoke about the start of the casting and posted a list of demands on the platform Backstage. By the way, some plot details are also indicated there: the action takes place two years before little Harry Potter received his famous scar. The main characters are the Marauders, who fight on the side of the Order of the Phoenix against the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord Voldemort. A tabloid later posted a news item about the casting. Daily Mail, which was referred to by many Russian media that did not understand the topic and did not double-check the information.

And the requirements for actors of the fan series do indicate that they are looking for a “gender non-conforming, non-binary or transgender man” 18-25 years old for the role of James Potter. In addition, the actor must be "ethnically ambiguous" or represent people of, for example, Asian, African, Latin American or Middle Eastern descent. The role of Lily Evans is open to a young “gender non-conforming, non-binary or transgender woman.” Much the same applies to the rest of the characters, including Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew and others. And, according to the casting announcement, the actors’ work is unpaid and open to everyone; the organizers only cover the costs of travel, accommodation and food.

By words creator, she did not obtain permission from Warner Bros. and JK Rowling, who wrote the original books. McKelly hopes that her work falls under the fair use doctrine, since her series could be considered a parody due to its inconsistency with the canon of books and films. However, the Daily Mail journalist believes that copyright holders can still go to court.

“Rise of the Order” is planned to be filmed in June-July in the northwestern United States. Where, when and how the series will be released is still unknown. But, most likely, the release will take place on some video platform.

Image: @studiofaya (IG) / @projetoidentidadeoficial (IG)

Mostly not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Is it true that in Europe they are demanding the inclusion of an LGBT character in the animated series “Masha and the Bear”?
2. Is it true that the Vatican adopted amendments to the Bible excluding the sinfulness of homosexual relations?
3. Is it true that the film “Guest from the Future” was banned in the Netherlands for discrimination against gays?
4. Is the story true about an American who asked to be transferred to a women's prison and raped a fellow inmate there?
5. The fictional world of geek publics